Multi-Connection Truss Pick

ABSTRACT

A truss pick is provided for hanging tubular space frame truss. The truss picks of the present invention allow multiple methods of suspending truss from permanent structural objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of hanging truss. There is a need in the construction industry for a truss pick which can be used to hang tubular truss. It would be greatly beneficial to have a truss pick which allows multiple methods of suspending truss.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood with reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1A is a side view of an embodiment of a truss pick;

FIG. 1B is a sectioned view of the embodiment of the truss pick in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a side view of an embodiment of a truss pick;

FIG. 2B is a sectioned view of the embodiment of the truss pick in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a side view of an embodiment of a truss pick; and

FIG. 3B is a sectioned view of the embodiment of the truss pick in FIG. 3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A truss pick is provided for hanging tubular space frame truss. Tubular truss is used in the entertainment industry in both temporary and permanent rigging systems to hold lights, speakers, and other entertainment equipment. It would be beneficial to have a single truss pick which would allow the hanging of tubular truss from permanent structural objects using multiple methods.

Tubular space frame truss is made of various sized tubular elements. The longitudinal elements are called truss chords or chords. Truss chords can be of various diameters. The truss chords are connected by webbing elements. A truss is a single unit of truss chords along with the webbing that hold them together. Truss has two or more chord elements and can have any number of webbing elements sufficient to hold the truss together. The truss picks of the present invention can be made to hang truss of various diameters and configurations.

A truss pick is used to suspend truss from a secure fixture. To do this, the truss pick must attach to the truss through the truss chord tubes and carry the load from the chord tubes through the body of the truss pick to a largely central location at which the entire load is vertically supported by a tension member (chain, cable, rod, etc.), which is itself secured to a fixture.

The truss picks of the present invention allow the truss to be suspended from a permanent structure via attachment to a chain or via attachment to a cable. To attach a truss pick to a chain, the truss picks of the present invention have a pocket and hole feature that allows the chain to be secured directly to the truss pick without any intermediate form of attachment. The packet and hole feature is a pocket at the top of the truss pick body and a hole that is perpendicular to inside walls of the pocket. To attach chain, a chain link is inserted into the pocket. The chain is then secured to the truss pick by inserting a pin through a hole in the body of the truss pick, thus capturing the chain link directly. When thus attached, the forces are carried in shear by the pin to the body. The pin can be secured by any means to axially restrain it within the body of the truss pick. This mechanisms allows direct connection of the tension member to the bodies of the truss picks of the present invention without an intermediate connection, such as a shackle. Alternatively, the pocket can be of such a size to accept any looped termination member, such as a looped cable or a swage eye cable termination.

To attach a truss pick to a tension member, the truss picks of the present invention have an additional hole that goes from the top of the truss pick through the bottom of the truss pick and is largely coaxial with the load being carried. A tension member, such as a cable or rod, can be passed through this hole. The tension member can be secured to the truss pick by any termination fitting known in the art, such as a swaged fitting or a nut.

In one aspect of the invention, the truss pick of the present invention comprises a) a body; b) 2 or more saddles integral with said body: and c) 2 or more clamp members attached to said saddles; wherein said body comprises at least one hole and pocket feature for securing a chain to the truss pick. In other aspects of the invention, said body comprises at least two hole and pocket features, three hole and pocket features, or more than three hole and pocket features.

The truss picks of the present invention attach to space frame truss by clamping onto truss chords. Truss chords sit inside saddles integral with the body of the truss picks of the present invention. Clamp members can attach to said body by any means known in the art. The saddles and the clamp members can be of any shape necessary to hold any size chord members of space frame truss.

In another aspect of the invention, the truss pick comprises a) a body; b) 2 or more saddles integral with said body; and c) 2 or more clamp members attached to said saddles; wherein said body comprises at least one hole through which a tension member can be passed; said hole being largely coaxial with the direction of the load. In other aspects of the invention, said body comprises at least two holes through which a tension member can be passed; said body comprises three holes through which a tension member can be passed; or said body comprises more than three holes through which a tension member can be passed.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the truss pick comprises a) a body; b) 2 or more saddles integral with said body; and c) 2 or more clamp members attached to said saddles; wherein said body comprises at least one hole and pocket feature for securing a chain to the truss pick; and wherein said body also comprises at least one hole through which a tension member can be passed, said hole being largely coaxial with the direction of the load.

FIG. 1A is a side view of an embodiment of the truss pick of the present invention. In this figure, the truss pick has a body 100. The body is integral with saddles 101. The truss pick also has clamp members 102 which are attached to saddles 101 by a bolt 103. The clamps 102 are attached to the body 100 by a bolt 104. The body 100 has a hole 105 that can be used in conjunction with a pin to secure the truss pick to chain 106.

FIG. 1B is a section view of the embodiment of the truss pick in FIG. 1A. The body 100 also has a pocket 107 which is both deep and wide enough to hold chain 106 in the packet using a pin through the hole 105. The pocket 107 is connected to a hole 108 that goes through the body 100.

FIG. 2A is a side view of an embodiment of a truss pick. This embodiment has three pockets 107 and holes 108. Tension member 200 is shown going through the center hole 108. The tension member 200 can be a rod or a cable. The tension member 200 is secured to truss pick by a nut 201.

FIG. 2B is a section view of the embodiment of the truss pick is FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment shows two chain links 106 inserted into two of the three hole and pocket features.

FIG. 3B is a sectioned view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3A.

Various embodiments having been thus described in detail and by way of example, it will be apparent to those of skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made and still achieve the desired outcome. The embodiments described herein include all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A truss pick comprising a) A body; b) 2 of more saddles integral with said body; and c) 2 or more clamp members attached to said saddles; wherein said body comprises at least one hole and pocket feature for securing a chain to the truss pick.
 2. The truss pick as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body comprises at least two hole and pocket features.
 3. The truss pick as claimed in claim 2 wherein said body comprises three hole and pocket features.
 4. The truss pick as claimed in claim 2 wherein said body comprises more than three hole and pocket features.
 5. The truss pick as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pin is passed through said hole of said hole and pocket feature and captures a looped termination member.
 6. The truss pick as claimed in claim 5 wherein said looped termination member is a chain link.
 7. A truss pick comprising a) A body; b) 2 or more saddles integral with said body; c) 2 or more clamp members attached to said saddles; and wherein said body comprises at least one hole through which a tension member can be passed; said hole being largely coaxial with the direction of the load.
 8. A truss pick as claimed in claim 7 wherein said body comprises at least two holes through which a tension member can be passed; said holes being largely coaxial with the direction of the load.
 9. A truss pick as claimed in claim 8 wherein said body comprises three holes through which a tension member can be passed; said holes being largely coaxial with the direction of the load.
 10. A truss pick as claimed in claim 7 wherein said body comprises more than three holes through which a tension member can be passed; said holes being largely coaxial with the direction of the load.
 11. A truss pick comprising a) A body; b) 2 or more saddles integral with said body; c) 2 or more clamp members attached to said saddles; and wherein said body comprises at least one hole and pocket feature for securing a chain to the truss pick; and wherein said body also comprises at least one hole through which a tension member can be passed, said hole being largely coaxial with the direction of the load. 